As State Representative for House District 40 and the Rio Grande Valley, I am deeply concerned by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) decision to rescind grant funding for the non profit, Holistic, Organic, Practical Education for Small Farm Sustainability (HOPE).
This $7.4 million grant is intended to support aspiring Texas farmers. This funding was not about politics. It was about strengthening our agricultural economy, expanding access to land and markets and supporting hard working families across South Texas at a time when our farmers and ranchers are facing rising costs and declining production. This kind of investment is exactly what we need, not what we should be cutting.
In the RGV, where agricultural production has already declined significantly, this investment was a critical step towards revitalizing our local food systems and preserving our farming heritage. Programs like this help level the playing field for small and emerging farmers, many of whom are simply trying to build sustainable livelihoods. Taking away these resources only makes it harder for our region to compete, grow and remain resilient.
Programs like HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability help provide access to land training and real opportunities for the next generation of farmers in the RGV. The USDA placed the Trump Administration's political priorities above smart, forward-looking investments in our local food systems and farmers.
Officials in Washington cannot continue to make decisions that target and harm our communities simply to advance a political agenda. I stand with the farmers and families who depend on the support and funding HOPE provides. And I urge federal officials to reconsider this decision.
Sincerely,
Terry Canales
Texas State Representative
Editor's Note: The above letter was penned by state Rep. Terry Canales and sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protest a decision the agency made to rescind funding for HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability.
